Laundry machine



Oct. 12, 1937. e. H. REAMA ET' AL 2,095,370

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1933 55heets-Sheet l Ot. 12, 1937. a. H. RE-AMA ET AL 7 LAUNDRY MACHINE I M 16 n 91g,

7 94 ATTORNEYS O 1937. e. H. REAMA ET AL 2,095,370

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1935 v s sheets-sheet 4 ATTORN EYS Oct, 12, 1931- G. H. REAMA ET AL LAUNDRY momma:

Filed Sept. 20, 1935 5 Sheet -s 5 NEYs Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY MACHINE Applicationseptember 20,1933, Serial No. 890,184

14 Claims.

This invention relates in general to laundry machines, and more particularly to a washing machine of the centrifugal drying type.

According to a preferred form of the invention, a portable household combined washing and centrifugal drying machine is provided having certain greatly improved mechanisms. A centrifugal drying basket is provided having its outer wall detachable so that the basket may be dis- I sembled into an ordinary bottom agitator having a bottom plate and upstanding agitator blades. The removal of the basket wall permits the laun-' dry to be placed directly in the tank and greatly increases the capacity of the machine for washing.

For changingfrom a washing motion to a drying motion, a. gear shifting mechanism is provided by which the gears giving the desired movement are placed directly into mesh with the gear attached to the main drive shaft of the machine. This eliminates the conventional clutch arrangement for obtaining the different motions. For furnishing a. convenient gear shifting arrangement, a safety gear transfer device is provided by which the gears may be thrown and locked in either desired position. At the same time provision is made for the operation of shifting the gears to automatically turn the power off the motor. 5 If desired, in addition to the lower agitator, an upper agitator may be provided to be used either when the basket side wall is in place or when it is removed. The use of an upper agitator assists the washing action in certain respects.

In the form of theinvention shown, the machine comprises a suitable outer container or tank supported on a skirt which in turn may rest on a plurality of flexible rubberfeet. An upstanding pedestal within the tank carries the agitator and detachable side wall, forming the centrifugal drying basket. located within the skirt may be a gear box'containing the gearing for imparting an oscillatory rotary motion to the agitator for washing and a continuous rotary motion for drying, and the electric motor for driving the gearing.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organizations may be better understood-by referring to the following description Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is another elevation of the machine with parts shown in section on the line H of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the method of attaching the side wall of the receptacle, Fig. 4, showing a front view with the detaining catch open and Fig. 5 showing a side view with the catch closed;

Fig. 6 is a section'on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing the interior of the skirt portion and the gear box with the cover removed and the gears in position for operating the machine as a centrifugal drier;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the gear box and transfer handle with the gears in position to operate the machine as a washer;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of parts of the gear mechanism for driving the machine as a washer;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing parts of the gear mechanism for driving the machine as a centrifugal drier in operative position;

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section, showing the operation of the gear transfer handle and the motor switch;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the sleeve detail showing a section of the transfer handle jour nalled therein; 1

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the receptacle and hub showing a set of auxiliary agitator blades in place;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the receptacle with the auxiliary blades in place; and

- Fig. 14 is a perspectiveview of the slide and sector members.

In the. following description and in the claims, various partswill be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosures of the invention are made for purposes by a skirt 2 which rests upon flexible feet 3 fastened about its lower rim. The tank is provided with a cover 4. In the interior of the tank is a pedettal 5 upon which is rotatably mounted a combined agitator and centrifugal drier basket 1. The side wall 9 of the basket is removable leaving an agitator made up of hub 6, blades I0 and bottom 8. When the side wall 9 is removed, the washing capacity of the machine is greatly increased, the agitator acting on clothes placed directly in the tank I.

For driving the machine, gearing in a gear case II supported within the skirt 2 is provided. Also enclosed within the skirt is a drive motor I2 for driving the gearing in the gear case. A suitable tumbler switch I1 is provided in the motor circuit and gear-transfer handle I8 is provided for shifting gearing in the gear box to give washing and drying movements. The agitator is oscillated back and forth for washing and the basket is driven continuously for the centrifugal extracting operation.

The pedestal 5, upstanding in the center of tank I, projects through the bottom 22 of the tank and shoulder 23 of the skirt 2 and has a flange I9 at its lower end. Flange I9 is firmly clamped against the under side of the shoulder 23 by bolts 2| passing through the bottom of the tank and the shoulder of the skirt. A clamping ring 20 is also included in the assembly and forms a seating for the heads of the bolts inside the tank. Suitable gaskets are also clamped in this assembly to prevent leakage from the tank. The bolts 2| after passing through the above mentioned parts are screw threaded into a circular seat inthe upper cover I04 of case II whereby the tank I, skirt 2, pedestal 5 and gear case cover I04 are firmly clamped together. Gear case II is clamped to its cover by several bolts about its rim, an oil tight gasket being clamped between them.

The bottom 22 of the tank approximates the form of a'flattened cone in order that all the washing liquid may be drained to itsouter edge and through the discharge outlet 4I when the tank is emptied. The bottom of the tank rests near its outer edge and near its center on the shoulder 23 of the skirt 2. It will be seen that the gear cas'e II is also supported from the skirt portion and from the bottom of the tank by means of this clamping arrangement.

' A chamber 5I is formed between the bottom of pedestal 5 and the cover I04 of the gear case. The shaft I8 extends through a hole in the cover I04 and through this chamber into the pedestal. A conical disc-like ring 50 is tightly fitted around shaft I8 within the chamber. This prevents any water from the washing chamber, which may run down the shaft, from getting. into the gear case. The water on reaching ring 50 will run off into the chamber where it will collect in a circular groove and will drain out onto the cover of the gear case through drain holes 52. Ordinarily, however, no water will run down the shaft I8 since the top of the pedestal is sufllciently above the water level to prevent this.

The shaft I8 which extends through the pedestal is driven by the gear case II in a. manner to be described later and is journalled at its lower end in bearing 41 in the bottom of the gear case and at its upper end in bearing 46 held in the upper end of the pedestal. The lower bearing 41 consists of a cylindrical upstanding boss integral with the bottom of case II, the thrust of the shaft being taken by bearing discs 48 which are within bearing 41. These may be of metal or of some suitable bearing material. An oil hole 49 penetrates the wall of the bearing 41 to allow lubricating oil, which partially fills the case, to more effectively reach the bearing. The upper bearing 46 consists of a sleeve of bearing metal, such as bronze for example, lining the upper end of the pedestal.

The upper end of the driving shaft I0 is flattened at 24 on two oppositefaces to form a flattened end. A slot 26 is cut in cap 25 of the hub B forming an opening into which the flattened end of shaft I8 will fit. Screw 21, threaded into the upper end of the shaft, holds the hub in place thereon. The flattened end of the shaft prevents rotation of the hub relative thereto.

The screw may be of any suitable form having an enlarged head provided with a slot whereby it may be removed by a screw driver. Any other form of head may be furnished whereby the screw may be easily removed to allow removal of the hub for cleaning the machine. On the outside of the lower end of the pedestal is a sleeve 28 of bearing metal to provide a lower bearing for the hub 6. Thus the hub is clamped to the driving shaft I8 being supported thereby at its upper end and is journalled to the pedestal at its lower end.

A receptacle '1 is supported by the hub and consists of a bottom 8 and a foraminous side wall 9. The bottom 8 is in the form of an integral flange on the lower end of the hub. The side wall 9 consists of a cylinder supported on the periphery of the bottom flange member 8. A plurality of agitator blades I0 extend radially from the lower part of the hub and may be integral with it and with the bottom flange member 8. The side wall 9 of the receptacle is seated on a shoulder 30 at the periphery of the bottom 8 (see Figs. 4 and 5) by means of a flange 3| around its lower edge. If desired the hub 6 and bottom 8 of receptacle 1 may also have perforations.

The outer edges of the blades I0 are provided with notches 34. The side wall 8 is formed with indentations 32 forming projecting bosses on the inside of the receptacle. These bosses have slots 33 to receive the ends of the blades. A plurality of levers 35 turn on pivots 36 fastened in the side wall. The lower ends of these levers are provided with tongues 31 which extend into the indentations 32. Handles 38, at the upper ends of levers 36 facilitate turning them about their pivots. In one position of a lever the tongue 31 will fit into notch 34 of its respective blade and thereby secure the side wall to the bottom. The handle 38 may be moved, however, to rotate the lever 35 and separate the tongue and notch, rendering the side wall free to be lifted out of the tank. The side wall 9 is provided with an upper, inturned shoulder I01 which provides a means for lifting it out of the tank and also-aids in retaining articles in the receptacle. Normally, two retaining catches, on opposite sides of the receptacle, are suflicient but one may be provided for each blade if desired.

The cover 4 of the tank is provided with a rim 39 forming a seat against the upper rim of the tank. Handles 40 are placed on opposite sides aoeasvo 45 of the tank by a wire hook 44. The upper end of the hose will then'be above the level of the washing liquid .in the tank and the hose thereby acts as a valve to retain the liquid in the tank.

The'liquid may be discharged when desired by I unhooking the hose and lowering its outer end.

Referring more particularly to the gearing (vertical sections of which are shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and plan views of which are shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9) the worm shaft H, which is driven by pulley l outside the gear case I I, extends through the case and is journalled on bearings 53 and 55 1 in the wallsof the case. The end of the shaft A lock nut 66 is threaded to II opposite the pulley I5, is enlarged into a cylindrical head 54 which rotates in bearing 55. The shoulder 56 of the bearing limits the axial travel of the shaft in the direction toward the pulley, and adjusting screw 51, threaded. in the bearing hole 55. limits the axial travel of the shaft in the opposite direction. The screw 51 is for the purpose of adjusting the axial clearance of shaft [3. the adjusting screw to lock it in place.

A collar 59 abuts against the inner end of bearing 53 and a suitable washer 6| of felt or other soft material is held between the collar and bushing in order to prevent leakage of lubricating oil from the case. Suillcient clearance is normally allowed between collar 69 and bearing 53, however, to allow the shaft a limited amount of axial movement in this bearing. The provision of the axial adjustment of shaft l3 in both directions at one end of the shaft only, prevents any binding due to shaft expansion as might occur if the axial thrustbearings were at opposite ends of the shaft. The bearing 65 has a sufliciently large bore throughout its length to allow worms 69 and 82 on shaft l3 to slide through it when the gearing is assembled.

A slide 83 (which is shown in perspective in Fig. 14) fits into a channel 64 which is integral with the case, and may slide therein. A slot 65 in the slide, fits over the lower bearing 41 of the shaft l8 and one end 66 of the slot acts as an abutment against the housing 41 of the bearing to limit the lateral motion ofthe slide in one direction due to the end 66 of the slot 65 coming into contact with the housing 41 of the bearing. The motion of the slide in the opposite direction is limited by the control handle l6 in a manner to be described later.

Worm wheel 61 and gear wheel 68 are shown as formed in one piece and are journalled on a shaft I which-is fastened at its ends in two opposing holes 69 'in a bifurcated portion of the slide. Worm wheel 61 meshes with worm 60 whereby the .worm wheel and the gear wheel are driven by the worm. Pinion lil is secured to the shaft l8- rotating the interior of the boss in case i l is'sllghtly conical in shape as is the hole in the boss whereby a tightening of the lock nut will firmly wedge the bearing shaft in position. Thus the mesh of the worm wheel 12 with the worm 62 may be adjusted to the most desirable position.

A sheave or drum portion 14 is secured to the upper surface of worm wheel 12 and may be integral with it. Rack 15 is journalled on the sheave 14 by a strap 16. A member ll (Fig. 14)

having approximately the form of a circular sector rides on the upper surface of slide 63 and has a radial slot 18 adapted to receive the shaft l8. The outer edge 88 of sector I1, which is in the form of a circular arc. slides on the arcuate abutment 8| formed on the upper surface of the slide.

Arc-shaped slot 62 in the sector member slides on boss 83 which projects from the upper surfact .of the slide.

Guideways 19 are cut in the upper surface'of the sector member and follow secant lines which are perpendicular to radial slot 18. The rack 15 formed on its under side with ridges which slide in these guideways. The rack has teeth 84 on its edge which faces the pinion 10. Boss 85 on the top of the rack 12 slides against cover I84, holding the rack in place.

A gear transfer rod 66 is threaded into the end of slide 63 and passes through the wall of the gear case H A bushing 81 threaded into the case'has a screw cap 88 providing a packing compartment between them to form a gland for preventing the leakage of oil from the case while allowing the rod to slide in the bushing. Rod 86 terminates in a head 89 which forms a swivel joint with a hollow member to limit the longitudinal-motion of the head within the member. Handle 16, which is outside the skirt portion 2, has a shank 92 which is journalled in a bushing 93 in the wall of the skirt and is threaded into the hollow member 99. The pin 9| provides a threaded adjustment with the shank 92 may be varied, a lock nut being provided on the shank to lock the member 98 in any adjusted position. Thus the effective length of the combined gear transfer handle and rod is adjustable.

Bushing 93 (which is shown in perspective in Fig. 11) has a shank extending through'the wall of skirt 2 upset, as at I 08, Fig. 7, to tightly grip the skirt 2. The shank 92 carries a boss 91 in the form of a pin adapted to slide in guideways 94, 95,.and 96 of the bushing. The bushing 93 and the tumbler switch I! are mounted side by side in a shallow well 98 formed in the wall of skirt 2.

After the member 99 and shank 92 have been adjusted to the desired length, the boss 91 on the shank in cooperation with the guideway 94 on the bushing 93 will determine the limit of travel ofslide 63 in one direction. Travel of the slide is limited in the other direction by theend of slot 65 as already has been described.

When the boss 91 travels in the inner channel 94 of bushing 93 the slide will be held in such a position that the teeth 84 of rack 15 will mesh with the teeth of pinion Ill whereby the rack may drive the pinion in an oscillatory manner. When the handle is pulled outward, moving the boss 91 along channel 96 toward channel 95, the slide is also moved in the same direction so that, when the boss reaches the position where it may travel on guideway 95, gear wheel 68 is brought into mesh with pinion 10 to drive it in a continuously manner and the rack 15 will have been means for turning member whereby the drawn out of mesh with the pinion. If the adiustment between member and shank 92 has been properly made, the end 66 of the slot 65 in the slide will touch the bearing housing 41 at this position. The gear teeth on parts 66, I0 and I5 may be pointed or rounded to aid meshing.

The guideways 94 and extend beyond the guideway 98 forming in effect notches I09 and I I0 to provide a safety feature described more in detail later. The handle I6 and the tumbler switch II are so arranged adjacent each other that the boss 91 will come into contact with switch I! and throw it to the off position when the handle is turned to bring it into position for shifting the gears, that is to bring boss 9'1 into alignment with guideway 96. (See Fig. 10)

Electric motor I2 is pivoted at 99 on a bracket I00 fastened to gear case II. The arrangement is such that the weight of the motor operates to keep the belt in proper tension. An adjustable safety stop IN is also fastened to the bracket I00 but is normally out of contact with the motor thereby leaving the motor free to perform its belt-tightening function.

Flexible feet 3 on the skirt portion 2 are formed of rubber plugs which are held in metal caps I02, the assemblies being fastened to the lower rim of the skirt by means of screws I03 which pass through the tops of the caps and are threaded into nuts embedded in the rubber feet.

In a modified form of the invention, shown in Figs. 12 and 13, an additional set of agitator blades I06 is mounted on the hub 6. Blades I06 are formed into an integral spider unit having a central hole provided with splines III engaging corresponding grooves on the hub 6. This blade assembly is longitudinally slidable on the hub down to the end of the spline grooves as shown in Fig. 12. The upper agitator may easily be removed or put into place when desired. The splines are so related that blades I06 are held in staggered relation to lower blades I0. In the arrangement disclosed, four lower blades I0 are shown extending radially from the hub 90 apart and four upper blades I06 are shown extending radially from the hub at angles mid-way between the planes of the lower blades, that is, 45 offset from them.

In operation of the machine with the detachable basket wall 9 in place, the hose 43 is hooked onto the handle. Water is then placed in the tank to a level which may be near the top of the receptacle I and suitable laundering materials are added. The articles to be laundered are placed within the receptacle and the cover 4 may be placed on the tank.

The gear transfer handle I6 is then moved to the in position so that boss 91 may travel in guideway 94. This will bring the rack I5 into mesh with the pinion I0, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The handle I6 is then rotated to the right until the boss 91 reaches the end of channel 94, thereby locking the slide in position. Tumbler switch II, which at this time will be in the down position whereby the motor circuit is open, is

then thrown by hand to the up position to close the energizing circuit for the motor.

The motor starts to rotate driving pulley wheel I5 which turns worm shaft I3. Since worm wheel 61 is in mesh with worm 60, it willbe caused to rotate, but since gear wheel 66 is not in mesh with the pinion, these wheels merely idle on their shaft. Worm wheel 12, however, which is driven by worm 62, rotates on its shaft, moving rack I5 in an oscillatory manner due to the eccentric conaoeasvo nection of the rack with it by means of sheave Ill. The rack thereby slides back and forth in' The oscillatory motion imparted to the pinion oscillates the shaft I8 which in turn drives the hub 6 and the receptacle andagitator blades supported by it in the same manner. Thus, a desirable washing motion is imparted to the blades and receptacle within the tank and the articles to be laundered are agitated in a very efficient manner.

When the machine has been run in this way for a sufficient length of time, the hose is unhooked from the handle of the tank in order that the water may be drained therefrom.

After the tank has been drained, the laundry is ready for the centrifugal drying operation. The handle I6 is then rotated to the left. If tumbler switch I! has been left in the up position so that the motor is still running, the boss 91 will strike against it when the handle is turned and knock it to the off position. This forms, in effect, a safety device for preventing shifting of the gears while the motor is running.

In operating the gear transfer handle I6, the rotary movement from either guideway 94 or 95 causes the boss 91 to catch in the notches I09 or IIO, respectively, before the boss 91 can be moved along longitudinal guideway 96. This introduces a time delay sufficient to give the motor and gearingtime to come to rest before a set of gears can be engaged.

When the boss 91 is finally brought into alignment with the guideway 96, the handle is drawn outwardly whereby the boss slides in guideway 96 and is carried into alignment with guideway 95. This moves the slide to bring gear wheel 68 into mesh with pinion I0 and to unmesh rack 15 from the pinion. The gears will now be in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 9. When the slide 63 is moved from one position to the other, worm wheel 61 rolls on the worm 60 so that it is always in mesh with it. When boss 91 has been brought into alignment with guideway 95, the handle is again rotated to the right, thus locking the gears into the position just described, which is the drying position.

The switch I! is then actuated by hand, thereby again starting the motor and causing worm 60 to drive the gear wheel 60, which in turn drives pinion 10 in a continuously rotating manner at a centrifugal drying speed. This spins the receptacle I, causing the water to be expelled centrifugally from the laundered articles in a well known manner. This water drains out of the outlet pipe and hose. The laundered articles are thus effectively dried. At the end of the drying operation, the motor may be turned off by manu-.

ally operating the switch and the clothes are removed from the receptacle. If desired, the cover 4 of the tank may be turned over and used as a tray for carrying the laundered articles. The two handles 40 and the flat top of the cover 4 facilitate carrying the tray and permit the tray to rest flat on a table. a

In the operating of the machine without the basket wall 9, handles 30 on the levers attached to the receptacle are shoved sidewise a short distance, whereby the tongues 31 are carried out of engagement with the notches in theb'lades Ill. The wall 9 of the receptacle may then be easily lifted from the tank by its upper shoulder portion. The machine may then be used for washing in a manner similar to that which has already been described, except that the articles to be laundered now fill the entire tank. The capacity of the machine for washing may, in this case, be doubled or increased to an even greater extent. After the articles are washed, they are removed from thetank and the side wall replaced therein after which the washed-articles are placed in the receptacle and the centrifugal drying operation performed as previously described.

With the modified form of the invention, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, wherein an extra set of agitator blades I06 is provided, this blade assembly may be placed on the hub, after the clothing has been placed in the receptacle, or in the tank (if the side wall 9 has been removed). These blades give an additional agitating action which -supplements that given by the lower blades Ill. Since the spline grooves, upon which the upper blade assembly slides, are out only a portion of the way down the hub, the upper blades will be prevented from sliding down the hub below the point as shown. Where only a few articles are being washed, these articles will be free to move between the two sets of agitator blades. If a large amount of laundry is in the receptacle, however, the upper blades may rest partly upon the articles being washed.

Thus, a combined washing and centrifugal drying machine has been disclosed which is a great improvement'in the household laundry machine art. The use of a centrifugal drying basket having a detachable outer wall which may be detached from the basket, leaving'an ordinary agitator, is of great advantage in increasing the capacity for washing in the machine. If a centrifugal drier is not desired, it is only necessary to omit the outer wall and an ordinary nondrying machine of increased capacity is obtained.

Furthermore, the arrangement for changing from the washing motion to the drying motion is of great simplicity in operation and construction. All clutches are eliminated. The gears which it is desired to drive are engaged directly by means of a novel gear shifting or gear transferring mechanism. Similarly, the combined gear shifting lever and motor shut-off safety device is also of advantage. It is impossible to shift the gears without shutting off the motor. The additional safety device for introducing a delay in operating the gear shifting lever to give the motor time to die down isalso important.

In addition, the connection of the hose tangentially to the tank makes a more compact acsembly and prevents the hose from kinking. Also the use of the cover as a tray is advantageous.

The handles 'of the cover are placed at the periphery where they are 'easily grasped and leave the centerof the tray unobstructed so it will sit flat on a table.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various' omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without depart ing from-the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drive for laundry machines or the like, 'a drive shaft having a worm thereon, a slide parallel to said drive shaft, a worm wheel and a gear wheel secured together and journalled on said slide, a driven shaft, a pinion on said shaft, said slide having two positions, said worm wheel and worm meshing in both said positions and said gear wheel and pinion meshing in only one of said positions.

2. In a drive for laundry machines of the centrifugal drying type, a drive shaft having a pair of worms thereon, two worm wheels driven by said worms, a gear wheel secured to the first of said worm wheels, an eccentric sheave secured to the second of said worm wheels, a rack having a strap journalled on said sheave, a driven shaft, a pinion thereon, and a sliding member selectively controlling the engagement of said gear wheel and said rack with said pinion.

3. In a drive forlaundry machines or the like, a drive shaft having a worm thereon, 'a worm wheel driven by said worm, an eccentric sheave secured thereto, a rack having a strap journalled to said sheave, a driven shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a sector member pivoted on said shaft, secant guides on said sector, said rack sliding in said guides and means for radially adjusting said sector relative to the pivot thereof.

4. In a drive for a machine, a drive shaft, two worms on said .shaft, a slide par-allelic said shaft, a worm wheel and a gear wheel secured together and journalled on said slide, said worm wheel meshing with one of said worms, a second worm wheel meshing with the other of said worms, an eccentric sheave secured thereto, a rack journalled to said sheave, a driven shaft, a pinion thereon, a sector member pivoted on said driven shaft, guides on said member, said rack sliding in said guides, means on said slide for moving said sector radially with respect to said driven shaft, said rack and gear wheel rod and means for varying the length ofsaid handle being journalled in said housing and having a projection riding in said guideways.

7. In a gear transmission, a first support hav-' ing a pinion joum'alled thereon, a second support having respectively a spur gear journalled thereon and a' rack slidably mounted thereon, and means for moving said supports relatively to engage said pinion respectively with said spur gear and with said rack.

8. In a. gear transmission, a stationary sup-" port having a pinion journalled thereon, a straight guideway, a slidable support in said guideway, said slidable support having respectively a spur gear journalled thereon and a rack slidably mounted thereon, said spur gear and said rack being located on opposite sides of said pinion, and means for moving said slidable support in said guideway to engage said pinion respectively with said spur gear and with said rack.

9. In a drive control for a laundry machine, a tank, an annular skirt supporting said tank, a gear box containing gearing and disposed within said skirt, an electric motor within said skirt for driving said gearing, said gear box having a stuffing box, a rod passing through said stuffing box for controlling said gearing, a safety device comprising a sleeve secured to said skirt, a handle having a shank in said sleeve and a hand-engaging portion, said shank extending in the same general direction as said rod, a swivel connection between said shank and said rod, said sleeve having axially spaced semi-circular guideways and a longitudinal guideway extending therebetween, a finger on said shank riding in said guideways, a tumbler switch alongside said sleeve ,for controlling said motor, the tumbler of said switch being engageable by said finger, said sleeve having notches at the intersection of said longitudinal guideway and said circular guideways respectively for delaying the movement of said finger between said guideways. I e

10. In a drive control, a power transmission, an electric motor for driving said transmission, asafety device comprising a. sleeve, a handle comprising a shank passing through said sleeve and a hand-engaging portion, means for controlling said transmission by longitudinal movement of said shank, said sleeve having axially spaced curved guideways and a longitudinal guideway extending therebetween, said handle having a part riding in said guideways, a switch having an operating member adjacent saidsleeve, said operating member being engageable by said part.

11. In a drive control, a power transmission, an electric motor for driving said transmission, a safety device comprising a. sleeve, a handle comprising a shank passing through said sleeve and a hand-engaging portion, means for controlling said transmission by longitudinal movement of said shank, said sleeve having axially spaced curved guideways and a longitudinal guideway extending therebetween, said handle having a part riding in said guideways, a switch having an operating member adjacent said sleeve, said operating member being engageable by said said part, said sleeve having notches at the intersection of said longitudinal guideway and said circular guideways respectively for delaying the movement of said part between said guideways.

12. In a drive for a machine, a drive shaft, two drive gears on said shaft, a slide parallel to said shaft, a guideway for said slide, a driven gear and a spur gear arranged to rotate together and journailed on said slide, said driven gear meshing with one of said drive gears, a second driven gear meshing with the other of said drive gears, a rack, a crank arranged to rotate with said second driven gear for operating said rack, a load shaft having a pinion, a bearing member mounted on said slide and having rotational movement thereon, said bearing member having a guideway for said rack, and means for moving said slide in said guideway to selectively engage said rack or said spur gear with said pinion.

13. In a drive for a laundry machine, a gear case, a' drive shaft journalled in said gear case, two worms on said shaft, a slide parallel to said shaft, said case having a guideway in its bottom for said slide, a worm wheel and a spur gear securedtogether and journalled on said slide, said worm wheel meshing with one of said worms, a second worm wheel meshing with the other of said worms, said second worm wheel disposed on the opposite side of said shaft from said slide, an eccentric sheave secured to said second worm wheel,

a rack having an eccentric strap on said sheave,

a driven shaft having a pinion, a sector member mounted on said slide, said sector member having a fork engaging said driven shaft and a journal portion engaging a cooperating bearing portion on said slide, said sector member having a guideway for said rack and an arcuate slot, said slide having a pin in said slot, and means for moving said slide in said guideway to selectively engage said rack or said spur gear with said pinion, said arcuate bearing, journal portion and slot having their centers of curvature on the center of said driven shaft when said rack engages said pinion, said slide having an opening through which said driven shaft passes.

14. In a drive control for machines, an electric motor, gearing driven by said motor, a lever for shifting said gearing, a tumbler snap switch in the circuit for said motor, and a projection on said lever for knocking the tumbler of said switch to the open circuit position when said lever is operated, said tumbler, when in open circuit position, being out of the path of movement of said projection, said switch being moved to closed circuit position by' manual operation of said tumbler independent of said lever.

GEORGE H. REAMA. ROBERT PIER'PONT. 

